Article Photos

LAKE BENTON - Instead of driving north for the fishing opener Friday, Marty Ernster and three buddies headed west to Lake Benton.

The four men were on the shore of Lake Benton fishing Saturday afternoon.

"Why go north when you can go west," Ernster said. "There is virtually no pressure out here."

Where else can a fisherman pull up to the lake shore and get out and fish, Ernster said.

Many of the lakes near the Twin Cities have a lot of private development. The opportunity to fish from shore is limited on those lakes, Ernster said. And if you do have a boat, the lakes are crowded with boats.

Ernster first came to Lake Benton on opening weekend last year. He had learned about Lake Benton about 10 years ago on the Tony Dean show. He finally decided to "get off my (rear) and come take a look last year."

"We came to catch some big fish last year and we did," Ernster said.

This year, the fish weren't as big or plentiful but by late Saturday afternoon, they had caught four walleye they kept and had released a fifth walleye, Ernster said.

Ernster said he's enjoyed meeting and talking with local fishermen the past two years.

"The only nice people we've met are everybody," Ernster said.

Some of the locals were fishing just a few yards down the shore line Saturday.

Bob Timmer of Pipestone was fishing with his sons, Dan of Woodstock and Paul of Lake Benton.

There were fish in Lake Benton that day, "but I can't prove it," Bob Timmer said.

He'd been fishing since 11 a.m. but had no fish. "I had one break a line but other than that, I haven't had a bite," Bob Timmer said.

"A guy who just left showed us what he caught. He got some nice walleye," Paul Timmer said.

The trio didn't mind not catching as of late Saturday afternoon, the sun was out and it wasn't too cold.

"It's a nice day to be out," Dan Timmer said.

A family was having a bit of luck on a pier that jutted out from the shore line into the lake.

BryAnn Miles, 9, had a good-sized walleye on a stringer.

She was fishing with family and friends Saturday.

"She's been waiting to go fishing," said her grandmother Karen Miles of Marshall. "We had been planning to go."

Stan Benson of Marshall fished with the group. He figured BryAnn's fish weighed about six pounds.

She was the only fisherman having luck on that afternoon.

"I try to fish as much as I can," Benson said. "It's just nice and relaxing to sit here."

While it's relaxing, "I'd prefer it more if the fish were biting," Benson said.

Both Benson and his friend Michelle Miles have been fishing most of their lives.

"I don't know if I'm any better at it now," Michelle Miles said. But she does know one certainty about fishing.

"It's called patience," Michelle Miles said.

The group would be fishing a little longer Saturday afternoon before they'd head to Tyler to watch a relative participate in the RTR prom.

"I have fished Lake Benton a lot," Karen Miles said. "They've got some good crappies, walleyes and other fish in here."